Andrew Garfield is looking back at the unusual experience of making his first movie with Robert Redford, revealing that he initially felt overwhelmed by the opportunity before Redford’s famously relaxed approach helped him settle down. Speaking on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, Garfield recalled being just 23 and preparing to work with Redford, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise on 2007’s Lions for Lambs.
Andrew Garfield Was ‘Terrified and Nervous’ Around Robert Redford
Andrew Garfield said he was “terrified and nervous and pinching myself” as he prepared to work alongside Redford, who directed and starred in the political drama. Garfield was making his feature-film debut at the time, having primarily worked in theater, and the scale of the opportunity was clearly not lost on him.
Then came an unexpected development: Redford was four hours late to set. Garfield joked that by the time Redford arrived, his nervousness had been replaced by anger. He later clarified that he was not genuinely upset with Redford, explaining that the long wait actually gave him time to get over the intimidation he initially felt.
Garfield remembered Redford as extremely relaxed when he eventually arrived. He described the actor as cool and casual, joking that Redford seemed to operate on his own “Redford time.” The contrast between Garfield’s intense nerves and Redford’s seemingly effortless confidence helped make the experience less intimidating for the young actor.
Andrew Garfield Says Robert Redford Made Him Feel Like an Equal
Andrew Garfield says the most memorable part of working with Redford was not the four-hour wait but what happened once they started filming. Because Redford was also directing, he would shoot his own coverage and then ask Garfield what he thought about the take.
For a 23-year-old actor making his first movie, the gesture was significant. Garfield recalled being surprised that Redford would ask for his opinion and encourage him to identify anything he thought could be improved. Rather than making the newcomer feel like someone simply following instructions, Redford made him feel as though he had a genuine place in the creative process.
Garfield has spoken positively about the experience before, describing Redford as generous and recalling that the film’s dialogue-heavy scenes felt almost like performing a stage play. In a previous interview, he also joked that Redford was regularly at least two hours late but said he loved the experience and respected Redford as both the director and the Hollywood icon he was.
The memory now carries additional weight because Redford died in September 2025 at age 89. Garfield’s latest recollection therefore offers another personal glimpse of the actor and filmmaker away from the mythology surrounding his decades-long Hollywood career.
For Andrew Garfield, the story of Lions for Lambs ultimately became less about being intimidated by a legend and more about discovering the person behind the legend. Redford may have arrived four hours late, but according to Garfield, he also arrived with the relaxed confidence and generosity that made a nervous first-time movie actor feel like he belonged.
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